A Bride woman who drove whilst more than three times over the legal alcohol limit has been warned she was within a whisker of going to prison.

47 year-old Linda Bagnall was instead sentenced to 200 hours community service and banned from driving for three years.

James Davis reports:

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The court heard how Bagnall had driven to Ramsey to discuss a family matter and had intended to stay in Ramsey that evening.

However, a disagreement meant she ended up driving home instead.

Her advocate said she had no previous convictions and now had a strong sense of a personal remorse for what was a one-off aberration.

In imposing the sentence, High Bailiff Michael Moyle said despite a number of mitigating factors and feeling stranded at the time, she made no effort to get a taxi home and there was no excuse to get in her car.

She will also have to re-take her test and pass an alcohol rehabilitation course at the end of the ban.